Bad, Cringy Photos To Avoid In Your LinkedIn Profile: Cropped Wedding Photos, Look To The Side, Bitstrips, Modeling Portrait, Pet Photo, TedX, Men & Women
Dos and Don’ts: Tips from a Professional San Francisco LinkedIn Headshot Photographer.
Signs You Should Update Your Headshot – Good vs Bad Linkedin Photos
Thanks to LinkedIn, headshots have become a staple nearly all people of various professions not just models, athletes, CEO’s, artists, actors, actresses and speakers. Headshots are a great way to build your brand, assist with networking, put a face to a name and help you to keep in touch with colleagues, recruiters and industry professional.
For tips on how to take a good headshot, read this.
Is It Better To Have A Linkedin Photo? Is It Bad Not To Have A Picture On Linkedin?
LinkedIn is one of the most heavily trafficked website on the planet. As a marketing and research tool, it is often times the main method for recruiting, competitive intelligence, finding a professional, evaluating possible employers, prospecting clients and partnerships as well as a screening tool for online dating.
Users with profile photos receive up to 21 times profile views than those without photos.
When it comes to first impressions, it’s important to have the best Linkedin headshots to represent you.
What Is A Bad Linkedin Photo? Unprofessional Headshot Examples
Unfortunately, not everyone knows what an appropriate headshot is. Some people repurpose existing photos, others crop personal photos, a few use photos they like or have seen from others but don’t necessarily translate because of industry norms.
Some of the industries with the worst headshots I have seen are in academia, real estate, banking, law, sales, life coaches, accountants, engineers and entrepreneurs.
Below is my list of cringeworthy inappropriate photos, self-absorbed, wannabe influencer portraits, annoying salespeople, b-school jargon-laded entrepreneurs and more.
What Your Headshot Says About You – Photo Analyzer: Bad Linkedin Photo Examples
It’s important to understand how your photos are viewed by others.
How you view yourself does not always resemble how others view you. What works for one person may not work for others based on age, industry, seniority, skin tone, hairstyle, wardrobe, facial features, hair length, lighting, background and more.
Signs You Should Update Your Headshot
Look To The Side Headshot, Photoshopped Studio Headshot
That photo taken in what appears to be a Sears or JCPenny studio background with the subject wearing a vest and looking 45 degrees up and 45 degrees away from the camera. What the hell are you looking at? Why is your mouth open? Are you stuck in the middle of a game of freeze tag?
Bitstrips, Bitmoji Digital Illustration Headshot
When HR and CEO want to make your company more approachable and interesting in the about us section of your website and realizes actual headshots will scare off applicants, business partners and customers.
The Anonymous, Empty Headshot
When you don’t want anyone to see you because you are on an FBI most wanted list or because Re/Code and TechCrunch wrote a very unflattering piece about you and the way you treated your spouse, employees or ex-company / investors.
Linkedin_Anonymous Headshot
Workout, Too Much Skin
For the personal trainers and fitness professionals that want an excuse to show too much skin in a highly sexualized manner to highlight their narcissistic personalities. This tactic is also used by some sales individuals in banking, real estate, or personal coaching professions.
Modeling / Sideways Over the Shoulder Pose
When you want to look your best so you hire a modeling agency photographer to airbrush your skin, remove blemishes, blast the lighting in your face and add dimples, sparkles in your eye, teeth whitening and wrinkle reduction. Bonus points if the photos look noting like you and were taken over 10 years ago. This person is likely to misrepresent or inflate their title ala Assistant to the Regional Manager to Assistant Regional Manager.
Pet Portrait aka Dogfishing
When people like you for your pet only and you can’t afford not to be liked. Tactic adopted from online dating apps.
Cropped Wedding Photo
When you pay over $5,000 for your wedding photographer and you convince yourself you can use a cropped photo for your professional headshot rather thank shell out an extra $200-$400 for the actual photo people will see and not the photo buried in your wedding album that will never see the light of day.
wedding crashers headshot
Party, Club Photo aka Jersey Shore Headshot
My personal favorite. Cropped red cup or Corona beer bottle with matching red face, unbuttoned shirt, neon lights, are over your shoulder and a slight glaze in your eyes. Never change.
TedX Photo aka Prestige Worldwide
You are riding the wave of that one conference speech you gave 7 years ago. It was the only time you had the entire room’s attention (and that was because the doors were closed until break time).
Lazy Startup Brogrammer Photo
Flip-flops, earphones, college t-shirt or company schwag shirt seated at your desk pretending to look caught off guard but you were practicing this shot for the last 3 hours last night after everyone left the office.
Black & White Photo, Editorial Photo
When you want to hate yourself slightly less than the IRL color version of you, there is the digital black and white version of you.
Face Photos aka Flying Heads
No neck, no shoulders, no chest – just face, ears hair and chine occupying 95% of the circular Linkedin photo space.
The Harvey Dent Headshot aka Two-Face Headshot
Not as common as the rest but on occasion you will see THAT person post a photo of half their face. Maybe done deliberately but it is obvious. You are hiding something.
On that note, rotating your face more than 15-20% away from the camera not advised or else people will draw the same conclusions as above.
Additional Reading: Worst Online Dating Photos To Use In Your Dating Profile
What Not To Wear For Professional Headshots
Avoid looks that are too casual for your industry. Avoid spaghetti straps on dress. Avoid wrinkled or stained shirts. Avoid white shirts unless layered with a sweater or blazer.
Final Thoughts: What Should You Avoid In Headshots, Generic Headshots, Signs You Should Update Your Headshot, When Should I Update My Headshot? How Long Is A Headshot Good For?
Obviously these are broad, sweeping generalizations I outlined here. If you have a pet company, pet photos are great.
If you are a fitness coach, fitness photos are great but keep it classy. Black and white photos are ok if you want to have consistent photos on your website but most people prefer color photos to have some pop, energy and dimension.
Accountants, engineers, scientists, medical professionals tend to have the worst photos because typically these people work from behind a computer or wear specific uniforms that are not as unique or stylish as others but that doesn’t mean you can’t obtain a great headshot to easily stand out from the competition.
If no one recognizes you, if you don’t look like your photo or if you have changed your haircut or industry, it’s time to update your headshot. Headshots should be updated every 2-5 years depending on your career, appearance changes.
—
Additional Reading: How To Take Headshots For Linkedin – Tips, Examples & More, Headshot Tips, Headshot Examples, Professional Photo For Linkedin, Linkedin Photo Analyzer
How To Take A Headshot – How To Take A Professional Headshot
How To Look More Attractive In Dating Profile Photos – How To Be More Attractive In Photos
How To Be More Photogenic In Your Photos – How To Look Professional, Approachable In Photos
Professional Headshot Wardrobe, Styling Tips Male – Men’s Professional Business Headshot Tips, Examples & Ideas
Professional Headshot Wardrobe, Styling Tips Female – Women’s Professional Business Headshot Tips, Examples & Ideas
Modern Headshots – Modern Headshot Examples – Creative Headshots For Professionals
What To Wear For A Linkedin Headshot (What To Wear For Business Headshots, How To Take A Headshot For Linkedin, What To Wear For Linkedin Headshots)
What Should You Not Do In A Headshot – What To Avoid In Professional Headshots, Bad Professional Headshots
Professional Business Headshot Examples, Poses Women – – Professional Headshot Examples, Women
Corporate Headshots – How To Take A Headshot For Work
How To Take A Headshot For Acting – Professional Acting Headshot Tips, Examples & Ideas
How To Take A Headshot Outdoors, Outside – Outdoor Professional Headshot Tips, Ideas, Examples
About Eddie Hernandez
Eddie is a professional photographer & dating coach based in San Francisco, servicing clients in NYC, LA, Chicago, London, Sydney & beyond.
His photography style balances approachability and professionalism while focusing on personality by consulting on wardrobes, appearance, location scouting and what the client wants to signal, attract. His photos are natural, organic and free from artificial filters and photoshopping seen with other photographers.
When It comes to dating, his focus is on relationship-minded men and women while addressing lifestyle choices, appearance, hobbies, wardrobe, hygiene, communication skills, dating app profiles, blind spots, messaging, date ideas, confidence, location, etiquette & more. As seen in the NYT, WSJ & More.
Clients include VC's, CEO's, Attorneys, Tech, Non-Profits, Medical Professionals, Coaches, Engineers, Therapists, Government Officials, Shy Men, & Women, Actors, Models, Solopreneurs, Small Business Owners, Creative Professionals from Google, Apple, Salesforce, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, Tesla & more.
Bad Headshots, Worst Headshots, Funny Headshot Examples, Bad Headshot Examples Worst Headshot Examples, Unprofessional Hairstyles, Unprofessional Hairstyles For Men, Women, Worst Linkedin Headshots, Worst Linkedin Profiles, Bad Linkedin Headshots, Bad Linked Profile Pictures, Worst Photos To Use On Linkedin. Bad Linkedin Profile Examples, Good Linkedin Photo Example, Linkedin Pictures, Linkedin Photo Examples,Headshots Gone Wrong, Good Headshot Bad Headshot, Awkward Headshots, Real Estate Agent Headshots, Terrible Headshots, Bad LinkedIn Photos, Unprofessional LinkedIn Photos, What Your LInkedin Photo Says About You, Awful Linkedin Photos, Bad Linkedin Profiles, Good vs Bad Linkedin Photos, LinkedIn Photos Dos and Donts, Linkedin Profile Picture Fails, Headshot Fails, LinkedIn Fails, What You Should Not Wear In A Headshot, Linkedin Photo Analyzer, Good Headshots vs Bad Headshots, How To Take A Professional Headshot For Linkedin, How To Take A Business Headshot, How To Take A Linkedin Headshot, Headshots For Linkedin, Good Headshots vs Bad Headshots, Bad Professional Headshots, Weird Headshots, Worst Real Estate Headshots, What Makes A Bad Headshot, Good vs Bad Headshots, Good Headshots vs Bad Headshots, What Makes A Good Headshot, Different Headshot Looks, What Makes A Bad Headshot Photo, What Makes A Bad Headshot Example, Inappropriate Linkedin Pictures, Worst Profile Pic, Linkedin Photo Fails, Worst Corporate Photos, What Should You Not Do In A Headshot, Linkedin Photo Mistakes, Linkedin Profile Mistakes, Worst Headshots Ever, Thought Leader Headshots, Narcissistic Headshots, Self-Absorbed Headshots, Cringy Headshots, Silicon Valley Style, Silicon Valley Fashion, Silicon Valley Dress Style, Silicon Valley Fashion Brands, Silicon Valley Work Attire, Silicon Valley Tech Worker, Silicon Valley Tech Bro Starter Park, Silicon Valley Stereotypes, Cringy Headshots, Douchebag Style, Douchebag Headshots, What Does A Douchebag Look LIke, Douchebag Haircut, How To Look Like A Douchebag, What Should You Not Put A Picture Linkedin Profile, What Is A Bad Linkedin Headshot, What Is A Bad Linkedin Picture, Should My Linkedin Profile Picture Be Professional?, What Kind Of Photo Should I Use For Linkedin? Worst Linkedin Pictures, Worst Linkedin Photos, What Photos Should I Not Put On Linkedin, Bad Corporate Headshots, Bad Realtor Headshots, Cringe Headshots, Worst Realtor Headshots,